Prevalence and management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Qatari students

Background & Aim: Children with ADHD in the Middle East are often stigmatized in part due to a lack of community understanding of the disorder. They are often denied access to educational opportunities and their families experience shame in having a child who is unable to complete school. It is thus important to learn about the prevalence and origins of ADHD in Middle Eastern individuals. The aim of this research is to assess the current literature on ADHD in Qatar and the Middle East, to determine the prevalence and etiology of ADHD in Qatar children age 6-17 years, to examine the correlation between parent and teacher rating scales of ADHD and to investigate the effect of three different treatments for ADHD a) stimulant medication, b) working memory training (Cogmed), and c) stimulant medication and working memory training (Cogmed).